Aahana Swrup
Episode 2 of ‘Outlander’ season 2 finds the central characters all undergoing their respective plights. Ellen’s homecoming to Castle Leoch is hardly met with the warmest of welcomes. Despite the hostility, the young Mackenzie heir stays the course of ensuring safety and prosperity for her clan in the face of the looming war. Likewise, Brian, returned to Lord Lovat, has much work to do if he wants to fight, and more importantly, emerge victorious, in the upcoming Jacobite uprising. Still, despite their distance, the couple’s love for each other remains strong. On the other hand, in the wake of her recent failure to return to her time, Julia tries to understand the magic of the Craigh Na Dun stones. Meanwhile, Henry, still stuck in an insane asylum in the 1920s, finds an unexpected ally who aids him in his mission to return ot his family. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Ellen Convinces Colum to Sign Over the MacKenzie Lands in Her Name
At Castle Leoch, Ellen finds herself a prisoner, confined to the Chapel, where her brothers arrive with their reprimandations. A Mackenzie through and through, she stands up to Colum, letting him know that her defiance of their agreement only arrived on the heels of his failure to hold up his end of the bargain. She also lets him know that she hasn’t returned due to any misguided feelings of homesickness. Instead, she has a plan to save the clan for the promise of possible doom that the Jacobite uprising brings. Given their loyalties, Dougal is sure to lead their men into battle in service of the cause. Thus, if the Jacobites fail, the MacKenzie clan will be sure to bear the brunt of the loss.
Most notably, this could result in the loss of their land ownership. Therefore, Ellen advises Colum to put Leoch entirely under her name. By transferring the deed to her, he can ensure that even the loss of the war won’t take the land from the clan and its people. By having the land under a woman’s name, it would free Leoch of any association and implication with Dougal and his men’s involvement with the Jacobites. It’s a daring proposition, but both the clan advisor, Ned, and Colum have to agree that it is a sound one. Thus, in the end, the clan leader ends up going with his sister’s plan. Yet, he notably puts down one condition: while the land is under Ellen’s name, she can’t marry anyone.
Julia Recruits the Expertise of Maisri the Seer
After the defeat at Craigh Na Dun, Julia has no choice but to return to Leathers with her son, William, and play the part of the wife returned home untouched. Off-the-bat, her priority lies in ensuring that she can put some distance between herself and her unfortunate husband. As such, she subtly tries to suggest to him that young Brian, inexperienced in the politics of war, might need him by his side. Consequently, she successfully finds herself with some solitude at Castle Leathers. She uses this time to summon Lovat’s favored seer, Maisri, in an attempt to understand what had gone down at the magical stone circle. In order to orchestrate this meeting, she uses the excuse of commissioning the installation of protective charms around the estate, using her recent “abduction” as justification.
While Maisri works on these charms, Julia slyly asks her about the Craigh Na Dun stones, fishing for information about the stones, the magic behind them, and why it didn’t work for her. To her devastation, the seer makes a surprising discovery. She uses her powers to evaluate if the young mother has the power needed to interact with the Craigh Na Dun magic and comes to the conclusion that she does not. Naturally, this raises some questions about Julia’s previous travel through time and her future ability to return to the 1920s. For the time being, she seems to resort to the possibility of being stuck in the 1700s. Yet, she can at least hold on to the assurance Maisri gives her that her other dark-haired child is in the company of fatherly love and care.
Mrs. Graham Helps Henry in His Great Escape
Back in the 1920s, Henry remains trapped at the Inverness Lunatic Asylum, where treatments of shock therapy only continue to fry his brain further. Yet, the company of Mrs. Graham, the reverend’s housekeeper, who has taken a keen interest in him, significantly improves his situation. The strange woman is the only one who believes his claims of having traveled back in time after a run-in with the Craig na Dun stones. Therefore, conversations with her help him hold onto the memories of his family despite the asylum’s efforts to convince him they’re just his delusions. Although he still doesn’t remember Claire, he holds on to the confidence of Julia’s existence.
Meanwhile, his brother, Lamb, who has stepped in as Claire’s guardian in her parents’ absence, bitterly embraces the fact that his brother is gone and he needs to stop holding out hope for his return. As Hallow’s Eve nears, Mrs. Graham advises him to prepare for his escape. According to folklore, it’s the one night in the year when the mist between worlds is the thinnest. As such, there’s an increased chance of the stones taking him back in time to his beloved. She also smuggles him the supplies he would need to execute this escape from the asylum. This includes a convenient brooch studded with a gemstone. Consequently, Henry, in the disguise of a Reverend, is finally able to earn his freedom from the barbarous institute.
Brian Rallys Men For Lovat and Pays Leoch a Visit
The Fiery Crosses have compelled Brian to return to his father, to whom he swore an oath of allegiance in time of war. Therefore, he, along with Murtagh, set out to help the Laird rally troops under his name. Unsurprisingly, no one is eager to throw in their lot with Lovat, given the scandal that continues to tarnish his reputation. Thus, in the face of the men’s disregard for his father, Brian steps up and delivers a rousing speech befitting a leader. He encourages the men to fight under Lovat, not despite his shortcomings, but only in service of the Fraser name. As such, the outing becomes a success, even pleasing Lovat, who otherwise has nothing but disdain for his bastard son.
Afterward, Lovat instructs Brian and Murtagh to continue campaigning. The Fraser heir is only working so hard to rally troops and win the war because he wants to build a life with Ellen. Therefore, instead of continuing to work in his Laird’s favor, he decides to visit Castle Leoch. Naturally, his presence is met with hostility by the MacKenzie brothers, with Dougal remaining eager to engage in a fistfight with him. Nevertheless, Brian stands his ground, filled with newfound confidence, and de-escalates the situation by revealing he is rallying men for the Jacobite cause. Furthermore, he is also able to steal a moment with Ellen. Thus, despite their responsibilities to their clans, the couple also stay devoted to their love for each other.
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